China continues testing its CSSHQ reusable spacecraft
Estimated appearance of the CSSHQ ship, Graphics Thedrive.com
China continues to test its experimental reusable spacecraft, known as the CSSHQ. A few days ago, an unmanned product returned from space, where it had been for the past few months. According to official reports, the flight ended in success and made it possible to solve all the assigned tasks. At the same time, the details of the work carried out are traditionally not reported.
According to official data
Chinese science and industry have long been engaged in the subject of reusable spacecraft. In the past, key organizations in the industry have repeatedly presented certain concepts and developments from this direction. As it became known later, by the end of the tenth years, another project was developed, which was then brought to the construction and launch of a prototype into orbit.
On September 4, 2020, the Long March-2F carrier rocket was launched at the Jiuquan Cosmodrome with an experimental reusable spacecraft as a payload. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said that the prototype will be tested in orbit with some unnamed technologies necessary for the development of civil space exploration.
After completing all the tasks, the ship was supposed to return to the planned landing site in China. The flight lasted less than two days. Already on September 6, the prototype returned to Earth and landed. The landing site was not officially announced.
In official reports about the flight, the designation of the prototype was not given. It was called the "experimental reusable spacecraft" (Chongfu Shiyong Shiyan Hangtian Qi). This definition and its abbreviation, CSSHQ, are used abroad as an informal name for the device and the project as a whole.
The second launch of the CSSHQ product took place on August 4, 2022. The Long March-2F launch vehicle and one of the sites of the Jiuquan Cosmodrome were used again. CASC officially announced the start of the flight, but the published note actually repeated news dated 2020. They again talked about testing new technologies and about the future return of the ship to Earth, and without specifying the exact dates.
Launch vehicle "Changzheng-2F" with the spacecraft CSSHQ at the start, September 2020. Photo by Weibo
The return of CSSHQ from orbit was reported only a few days ago, on May 8, 2023. The flight lasted 276 days. and recognized as successful. The performed experiments are called a breakthrough in their field. They will contribute to the further development of reusable space systems for peaceful purposes.
At the level of conjecture
The Chinese corporation CASC does not disclose the technical details of its CSSHQ project. It is only known that a reusable apparatus has been built that needs a launch vehicle and is capable of landing on its own. Even an approximate appearance, not to mention the exact characteristics and capabilities, remains unknown.
However, the CSSHQ project predictably attracted the attention of foreign experts and organizations. As a result, already in September 2020, the first data appeared, on the basis of which it was possible to draw certain conclusions, assumptions and forecasts. In the future, the volume of available unofficial information has grown, and due to new information, it was possible to confirm previous assumptions.
On the eve of the first flight, photos of the launch vehicle on the launch pad got into the public domain. It differed from other products of the Changzheng-2F by an enlarged head payload compartment. As it soon became known, the CSSHQ ship was installed on the rocket. At the same time, the proportions of the fairing and the characteristics of the rocket made it possible to roughly determine the size and mass of its load.
Literally the day after the landing of the experimental CSSHQ, foreign commercial satellite operators took photographs of the Lop Nor test site. Increased activity was noticed at its airfield. This or that technique was present at different points - probably, this was due to the landing of the spacecraft. However, CSSHQ itself was not included in the frame. Obviously, it was hidden in a nearby hangar until the appearance of satellites.
As a result of the second flight, new interesting information appeared. Foreign organizations that control outer space report that during the flight, the Chinese apparatus carried out maneuvers. Along with it, several other small objects were in orbit. CSSHQ approached them, interacted and moved away.
One of the airfield sites at the Lop Nor training ground. The picture was taken in September 2020 after landing an experienced CSSHQ and captures increased activity at the airfield. Photo Planet Labs
Chinese spaceplane
According to the most common version, within the framework of the CSSHQ project, an unmanned spacecraft or orbital aircraft was developed and built. He is sent into orbit with the help of a launch vehicle, after which he independently performs the assigned tasks. Landing is made at the airfield "in an airplane way".
It is assumed that externally and in its architecture CSSHQ should resemble existing spaceplanes, such as the Space Shuttle, Buran or X-37B. Previously, CASC and other organizations have shown graphics and layouts of this kind. But which of the concepts has been developed and is related to the real project is unknown.
The uncharacteristically large fairing of the Long March 2F launch vehicle indicates the size limit of the CSSHQ product. Thus, the length of the fairing can reach 15 m. The diameter is more than 4 m. The rocket is capable of launching a load weighing 12 tons into low Earth orbit. However, it is obvious that the available volume and carrying capacity are not fully used, and the spacecraft is significantly smaller than the fairing and weighs less than 10 -12 t.
CSSHQ is equipped with automatic and remote control systems. With their help, he must go into orbit, perform maneuvers and carry out various work. There should also be a mode of automatic deorbiting, descent and landing at the airfield.
The ship requires different propulsion systems. So, for maneuvers and flight in the atmosphere, liquid engines are needed. A long stay in orbit must be provided by solar panels or another source of electricity.
The estimated dimensions and weight of the spaceplane allow placing some payload on it. For this, a fuselage compartment can be used, incl. with movable covers to output the load into outer space or receive objects inside. The estimated dimensions of the device allow you to take on board at least tens of kilograms of cargo.
The principle of flight of orbital aircraft, incl. CSSHQ products. Graphics
Last year, foreign organizations that control outer space reported that several other objects were in orbit along with the CSSHQ. Two of them were identified as a fairing and a booster stage. Five more remain unknown. These could be any structural elements normally dropped by an orbital aircraft during separation from the carrier, or objects for research, or even individual microsatellites.
Secret perspectives
Thus, Chinese science and industry continue to develop the direction of reusable space vehicles and demonstrate new successes. The prototype CSSHQ spaceplane has been in orbit for more than nine months and is reported to have completed the planned program of tests and experiments. However, the nature of the work carried out is not specified for obvious reasons.
CSAC claims that the CSSHQ product is intended to test advanced technologies for civil space applications. This means that only research and experiments will be carried out with its help. However, in the future, the experience of this project is used to create a completely new spacecraft. And it will already become a platform for transporting goods, people, conducting new experiments, etc. It is known that such issues are already being worked out in the PRC, and the current project will help to resolve them further.
Obviously, CSSHQ and subsequent projects are of interest not only for the civil sphere. The developments under these programs can be used to create military equipment. In this case, the PLA air force, like the US Air Force before, will be able to get its own space plane with special capabilities and use it to solve secret tasks.
One way or another, the existing CSSHQ project and other similar developments that are at an early stage are of great importance for the Chinese rocket and space industry and related fields. The successful completion of these projects will create the basis for further development and progress. And the latest tests lasting several months give cause for optimism.
Information